Hi all,

My friend's going to Beijing with her hubby and she would like to know if you all had any Beijing experience you want to share. She'll be staying mostly in the hotel since hubby will be out in meeting all day until dinner time so they don't know what to do or where to go at night. Also, their only free day to tour the city is Saturday so here are the questions.

1. Things to avoid while in Beijing, good and bad.
2. Places to go at night time.
3. Good shopping area to check out.
3. Great Wall/Ming Tomb vs. Forbidden Palace..etc.
5. Book day trip before going or at their hotel.


Reason I asked about the Great Wall vs. the Forbidden Palace is because they have only 1 day together in the weekend to do a day trip. I also read somewhere here that Ming Tomb was a waste of time so that's why I ask to relay the message to her.

I know lots of people here have real good answers and are very informative so I hope you guys can help my friend out.

Thanks.

I found Mings tomb interesting but pretty far out if time is of the essence. There was so much fog when I went to the wall I hardly saw any of it. I didnot find it interesting, but it is history. I prefered the part of the wall I saw outside of Beijing that has not been rebuilt for tourists. Actually got to touch original brick. The forbidden palace was very interesting and I only got to see a part of it because of time. I would have spent my time In beijing checking out the old architecture and neighbothoods given what I know now!
Pitfall. I think the hotels get a cut on taxis. When I was there a taxi was dropping off a fare. When I went to get in the doorman said no and directed me to a taxi waiting in line who wanted to charge me too much to take me to the wall. When I called him a liar(in Chinese) the manager came out and directed me to a taxi for a reasonable fee. I do believe they have something going on!

1. a. traffic, she better hope the hotel is in the heart of town or it will be hard for her to see much.
b. Temple of Heaven - the temple is under construction so you can't see it but they still charge you money to get into the park.
2. there is a great lake area west of the forbidden city that has lots of bars and restaurants
3. don't know
4. great wall and the forbidden city are both must see places
5. lonely planet guide book has some suggestions for tour buses that leave from near the southwest corner of the forbidden city going to the mutianyu section of the wall. this is an all day trip that includes some other temples and stuff. most hotels can also set up trips. the forbidden city can be down in a couple of hours but the wall is many miles from town. If they choose the Forbidden city then they could also do the Summer Palace too.

Been to Beijing for just a three days experience:

-- Taxis/Hotel combination might try and cheat.
-- The Great Wall and the Forbidden city are a must see (mark a V) but personally I found both not to be that exciting. In the Forbidden City you are only allowed to "peer inside" most places and thus lack the actual feeling of the place (for sure I can understand why this is enforced).
-- "2. there is a great lake area west of the forbidden city that has lots of bars and restaurants ". Indeed.
-- The best time I had in Beijing was crossing the frozen lake at the Summer Palace.

Thank you very much to everyone that answered. I'm the friend with the questions . I'm worry when I read about the taxis that cheat. Is it all like that everywhere for taxis?

JanLynn, that's so terrible what they did especially at a hotel. I just figure they're all the same metered type of taxis as of Shanghai so it's straight forward to pay whatever the amount of your destination. Sigh

However, thank you again everyone. Hope to hear some more feedback and what to do and not to do there.

I have a one-week trip in Beijing last summer. Beijing is such a big place that you will be easily lose your way.
1. Food in Beijing is what i hate most. i am not used to the cuisine there.
3. i like the Forbidden City best. the Great Wall actually need more than 1 day if you want to cover every corner of it. the whole Great Wall is made up of several seperate one. usually people go to Ba Da Ling( one part of the Great Wall). But this part is quite easy to climb., so not challenging!
In comparison, the Forbidden city is better. Kings and queens lived there. it is quite big. and if you can go with a guider, let him tell you every story in the Forbidden City!!! Some stones, jades and equipments all have their story, quite funny! Most of important is that the Forbidden city is in the downtown, so you have enough time to go to another scenic spot.

I have spent a decent amount of time in Beijing. If I had only one day to see stuff, it is definitely the Forbidden City!

Night life - 'Bar Street'. I don;t know where you are staying, but the bar street is near the consular district - walking distance from the Great Wall Sheraton.

The only city in China I have had a problem with a taxi is in Shanghai - took many taxis in Beijing without having a Chinese companion.

bar place was on sanlitun when i was in beijing in 2001 as mentionned next to the ambssies
summer palace got to be seen
nanar747

travelinjack3 wrote:5. lonely planet guide book has some suggestions for tour buses that leave from near the southwest corner of the forbidden city going to the mutianyu section of the wall. this is an all day trip that includes some other temples and stuff. most hotels can also set up trips. the forbidden city can be down in a couple of hours but the wall is many miles from town. If they choose the Forbidden city then they could also do the Summer Palace too.

I took one of these trips and after the great wall i got a taxi back to the city rather than visiting the tombs. I was back in the city by lunchtime.

If at all possible i would try to cram in the wall, forbidden city and the summer palace.

stefos wrote:
1. Things to avoid while in Beijing, good and bad.
2. Places to go at night time.
3. Good shopping area to check out.
3. Great Wall/Ming Tomb vs. Forbidden Palace..etc.
5. Book day trip before going or at their hotel.

Lived in Bj for 2 years and still now go there every 6 weeks or so for biz...

1. The fact the city is so big makes taking taxis (esp around peak hour and on the weekend) a nightmare. 2nd and 3rd ring roads, although a god send, are a black spot when it comes to traffic. Also - as someone mentioned - The Temple of Heaven is being done up...not the best time to have a peak...

2. Night time...its a LITTLE DIFFFERENT to Shanghai. Pick of the bars (if there is a pick) are at the West Gate of Chaoyang Park & Houhai (which I avoid since its become over exploited). Avoid Sanlitun....EXCEPT for THE TREE. Afte they detsroyed Sanlituin South street they moved behind Poachers on Sanlitun. Good form that bar...lthe first thing you'll notice in Bj is that ALL drinks are PROPERLY priced...ie average 15 - 35 Kuai drinks, 35 Kuai Average Cocktails.

3. Shopping - you have the markets at "Xiushui" (Yonganli) and Hongqiao (beside the temple of heaven). My g'friend went to the antique market 2 weks ago at Pengjiayuan and was slightly disapointed...

4. Both are great...been to the Ming tombs once...didnt float my boat.

5. Day trip...nahhhhhhhhhh!! You're in China! Get your hotel to hook you up a taxi for the day and do it yourself... and live a little!

Wow, thanks everyone for your great infos. However, I haven't heard anyone mentioned about the metered taxis? I just read about the ripped off taxi at the hotel so I'm hoping that was just a particular incident and not often practised there. I know about the black cabs and so here in Shanghai and what to avoid but not sure about what I read above.

Cheers.

I go to Beijing regularly (at least once a month), and while I don't think it has a patch on Shanghai it's still a great place to go.

1. Things to avoid while in Beijing, good and bad.
The climate is pretty harsh, make sure you drink plenty of water, otherwise you will easily get dehydrated, particularly if staying in air-con hotel rooms most of the time.
2. Places to go at night time.
Chaoyang Park and Houhai are both good - Houhai is very picturesque, with a nice lake near by, but bars are much better in Chaoyang park. I highly recommend Suzy Wongs which is a bit of an institution in Beijing, although a touch on the pricey side.
For up to date things to do That's Shanghai's sister magazine That's Beijing has great listings.
3. Good shopping area to check out. Eating wise I highly recommend a little Moroccan place called Souk also in Chaoyang park, probably the best atmosphere in Beijing for eating, and chilled drinking.
3. Great Wall/Ming Tomb vs. Forbidden Palace..etc.
Avoid Badaling at all costs - make a little more effort and go to Mutianyu - the Wall is in much better condition, and infinitely less tourists, although bring your hiking boots - It can get pretty steep at parts.
5. Book day trip before going or at their hotel.
Go through the hotel, get a driver for the day and don't pay any more than RMB500. I think if you do this you will have time to go to Mutianyu and the forbidden city in one day without feeling rushed (but don;t leave any later than 10am...

Hope helps.

No problem with taxis, just make sure you never take a taxi that's waiting for you. Always go to the street and flag one down.

If you want to negotiate a rate for the entire day, though, you're going to be at the mercy of the hotel unless you can find a way to negotiate directly with the taxi drivers.

Thank you Chinglish for the information given and thanks to mstittig too.

1. Things to avoid while in Beijing, good and bad: "students" selling their "paintings"
2. Places to go at night time: San Li Tun bar street, Hou Hai
3. Good shopping area to check out.: Ya Xiu, Xiu Shui, Xi Dan
3. Great Wall/Ming Tomb vs. Forbidden Palace..etc. : Great Wall, Forbidden City
5. Book day trip before going or at their hotel: at their hotel is fine. they have more flexibility. they can also opt to just hire a car with driver. will turn out cheaper too